Record salmon exports

The value of exports of Norwegian salmon in January rose by 43% compared to the same month last year, reaching a record total of NOK 2.7 billion. The volume of salmon exports totalled 76,600 tons in product weight – an increase of 12% compared to January last year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Original author:
Press Release
Published: 26.02.2013

‘In January, the average export price for fresh whole Norwegian Salmon was NOK 34.88 per kg,’ explains senior market analyst Paul Aandahl from the Norwegian Seafood Council. ‘This is NOK 9.15 higher than January last year and NOK 4.75 higher than in December 2012. Despite record high export volume in January and a strong Norwegian krone, export prices for fresh Norwegian salmon have gone up by no less than 36% in the last 12 months. This shows that demand for Norwegian salmon continues to grow.’

In terms of volume, Poland was the biggest growth market in January, importing 10,315 tons, up 50% compared to January 2012. Fresh whole salmon is the biggest export product, accounting for 91% of total Norwegian salmon exports to Poland.

The volume of exports to France in January totalled 10,066 tons, an increase of 13%. Fresh whole salmon is also the biggest export product to France, accounting for 80% of total exports.

The volume of salmon exports to Russia totalled 9,658 tons, down by 401 tons, or 4% compared to January last year. Fresh whole salmon accounted for 92% of total Norwegian seafood exports to Russia in January, compared to 95% in January last year.

The volume of salmon exports to the USA totalled 1,002 tons, a reduction of 28% compared to the same month last year. This year, like last year, the main product exported to the USA was frozen fillets, which account for 50% of all exports to the USA. Fresh fillets account for 20%. Last year, the equivalent figures were 59% for frozen fillets and 19% for fresh fillets. Fresh whole salmon accounted for 11% in January this year.

Meanwhile the volume of exports of fjord trout in January totalled 6,199 tons, an increase of 2,647 tons or 93% compared to January last year. The export value was NOK 202 million, up by 101%. Russia remains the biggest market, followed by Japan, Thailand and Ukraine. The volume of exports of trout to Russia in January totalled 3,101 tons, an increase of 1,325 tons or 75%. The volume of exports to Japan totalled 628 tons, to Thailand 303 tons and to Ukraine 253 tons.

The average price for fresh whole fjord trout in January was NOK 35.12, an increase of NOK 4.39 per kg compared to the same month last year. The average price of fresh whole Norwegian salmon in January was up by 9% compared to January last year, and is almost at the same level as the price of trout. The difference in price is only NOK 0.24 per kg; in January last year the difference in price was NOK 5.